India edge past Australia in 2nd ODI

Nagpur: A brilliant century by skipper Virat Kohli and a disciplined bowling effort saw India defeat Australia by eight runs in the second One-Day International (ODI), here on Tuesday. India now have a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

Chasing a target of 251 runs, the visitors were dismissed for 242 runs in 49.3 overs.

Asked to bat first, the hosts were bowled out for 250 runs in 48.2 overs. Despite Kohli’s century and a disciplined innings from Vijay Shankar, most Indian batsmen failed to rise to the occasion.

Coming in to bat after Rohit Sharma was dismissed in the very first over, Kohli batted almost till the end, scoring 116 runs off 120 balls with 10 boundaries studding his patient innings.

Vijay scored 46 off 41 deliveries before being run out.

Put in to bat, India lost their first wicket in the opening over when opener Rohit Sharma (0) was sent packing by pacer Pat Cummins.

The fall of Rohit’s wicket brought Kohli. He along with Shikhar Dhawan (21) played sensibly but just when it seemed good, Dhawan was adjudged leg before wicket off part-time spinner Glenn Maxwell in the ninth over with scoreboard reading 38 runs.

New batsman Ambati Rayudu (18) also failed this time and was dismissed in the 17th over by experienced spinner Nathon Lyon.

Kohli and Vijay then joined hands and forged a crucial 81-run partnership to stabilise the innings.